My many questions: Where in the episode do they enter the simulation? Is it the real doctor or the simulation doctor who is at Missy's execution? 

Entish at May 23, 2017 at 7:21 AM

My many questions: Where in the episode do they enter the simulation? Is it the real doctor or the simulation doctor who is at Missy's execution? 

Hi Entish,

My theory is that they don't "enter" the simulation. I think we see "reality" (the real Doctor) at the execution.

The events we see in parallel are just inside the simulation (with no concept of when it "began"). 

lightspeed at May 23, 2017 at 7:35 PM

Entish at May 23, 2017 at 7:21 AM

My many questions: Where in the episode do they enter the simulation? Is it the real doctor or the simulation doctor who is at Missy's execution? 

Hi Entish,

My theory is that they don't "enter" the simulation. I think we see "reality" (the real Doctor) at the execution.

The events we see in parallel are just inside the simulation (with no concept of when it "began"). 

Yes, I agree with lightspeed. The start of the execution proceedings began before the Doctor Who title sequence.  The title of the episode (Extremis) flashed up at the start of the title sequence, in a computer display format, which I'm guessing was the start of the simulation.  As lightspeed said, the execution proceedings were run in parallel with the simulation (I think).

I'm not sure all the portals led to simulations where people had worked out they weren't real. Only select groups  - like CERN - knew (had been told) the truth.

I think the theory for everyone else is that they are better off not knowing if they are living in a simulation. It's the knowledge that is painful.

I love that we all have questions :-)

lightspeed at May 23, 2017 at 8:38 PM

I'm not sure all the portals led to simulations where people had worked out they weren't real. Only select groups  - like CERN - knew (had been told) the truth.

I think the theory for everyone else is that they are better off not knowing if they are living in a simulation. It's the knowledge that is painful.

I love that we all have questions :-)

According to the transcript of the Steven Moffat interview you provided yesterday, the only people who knew that they were living in a simulation were those who were bright enough to figure it out.  So, obviously, most people weren't bright enough.  Using the same logic, the dead POTUS in the Oval Office could not have been Donald Trump. 

SonicR at May 22, 2017 at 5:29 AM

Tardis001 at May 21, 2017 at 7:13 PM

lightspeed at May 21, 2017 at 6:50 PM

I loved Extremis - you can tell you're in the presence of Moffat greatness :-)

It is one of the stories where there are more questions than answers. Before we only wondered what was in the Vault. Now we're wondering about the "reality" of the rest of the world.

And how/when did Nardole get River's diary?

Maybe everyone except Missy is dead and their consciousnesses have been uploaded into the library's computer. That is why the Doctor cannot regenerate. The real world is in the vault and the Doctor is pleading with Missy to download his consciousness and somehow bring him back to life. Or maybe the outside of the vault is actually the inside - the part of the computer where all the consciousnesses are stored. Which means that Missy is on the outside. The Doctor's consciousness would be downloaded into the body of the First Doctor, causing the First Doctor to regenerate into the Second Doctor.  How's that for a paradox?

When you say that the Doctor can't regenerate, are you talking about the actual Doctor? Because only the simulated Doctor theorised that he couldn't regenerate after healing his eyes - surely this wouldn't apply to the real Doctor, who hasn't used that eye-healing device.

I'm being naughty and having a bet both ways.  Yes, it makes sense that it is only the simulated Doctor who couldn't regenerate after healing both eyes. But the question I have is why can't the real Doctor regenerate his eyesight?  Ten was able to regenerate a hand.  Perhaps a time lord can't regenerate important body organs such as eyes or retinas, whereas they can regenerate limbs, like reptiles.

@abcwhovians at May 24, 2017 at 12:19 AM

I thought Ten could only regenerate his hand because he was still in the regeneration phase. But 11 did heal river using some of his regenerative energy

Actually, yes you are right.  I forgot about that.

An interesting synopsis for the Ice Warrior episode - a comment on potential real-life human colonisation (invasion) of Mars:

http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-10-the-empress-of-mars-official-synopsis-84960.htm

Tardis001 at May 25, 2017 at 10:40 PM

An interesting synopsis for the Ice Warrior episode - a comment on potential real-life human colonisation (invasion) of Mars:

http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-10-the-empress-of-mars-official-synopsis-84960.htm

Earthlings have had plenty of practice at upsetting indigenous populations.

took me a couple of viewings but I finally got my head wrapped around the ep....So the execution was real BUT nothing else was ...is that right?...good thats what i thought too....and while the eps have all been pretty good thus far villian wise...this one had a proper villian with intent and reasoning and the lot...

I thoroughly enjoyed “ The Pyramid At The End Of The World.”

That was fast paced and exciting episode of Doctor Who with a cliff hanger ending.

I'm looking forward to next week's episode, “The Lie of the Land”

Will The Doctor save us?

Of course he will, but how?

I rate this episode at 4.5 out of 5 Photons: 

I'm looking forward to “Whovians” tonight.

What wacky theory will Adam Richard cook up?  

the series is picking up,  that was pretty damn good, dunno how they got the tardis out without telling him, but thats UNIT for you...the Monks are a bit different for your average Who villian , they dont seem dastardly , but then most of the baddies this year havent been, apart from that arse in London trapping the giant fish, he was a tosser...trailer for next week has peaked my interest already....Oh and as for my theory on the monks...their the Wraiths from the vaults on Gallifrey taken over a corpse

Not a bad episode but I have enjoyed previous episodes more. I would give this one a 3.5 as well.

I must admit to still struggle with the Moff's work sometimes and if I can't work out exactly what is going on after mutliple viewings it does lessen the enjoyment somewhat. Hopefully, this week will finally reveal why the Monks want to take over the world because it aint obvious so far.

It does seem strange that if they have the power to, without any apparent effort it seems, to fully restore the sight of a Timelord and throw our most powerful weapons around willy nilly that they need all this simulation mularkey to take over the planet. But no doubt all will be explained.

But individual episode criticisms aside, I am enjoying this season much more than the last one.